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PDD ae gba ele GC De ALA A A eee EASES ES Sl 


_ A Survey of Our 
- India Mission Field 


pc bstsnadharuns pancoh- 


nc 


GENERAL MISSION BOARD 
CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN 


Sl AL EL 


ee ee 


au 


A Survey 


of the 


India Mission Field 


of the 


Church of the Brethren 


A. W. ROSS 
Missionary to India since 1904 


Prepared and presented with the approval of the India Mission 
and issued by authority of the 


GENERAL MISSION BOARD 
CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN 
ELGIN, ILLINOIS 


For General Distribution 
1919 


fr Raj Pipla State 


-| section of the western coast “of - 
' 


| INDIA | 


showing area occupied as aj 
mission field by the 


: : Church of 
me sthe Brelhren 


1954 
Draw by _A-Raymond Cotfrell. 


A SURVEY OF OUR INDIA FIELD 
Opportunities and Needs 


In 1911 a “Survey of Our India Field, Opportunities and 
Needs” was placed before the Board and the Church, and from 
several sources there come requests that we give a more up-to- 
date survey of the developments, conditions and needs of the field. 
Since that time there has been marked progress in certain parts 
of the field, and the policy of the Mission has become more marked 
and definite on several lines, making it necessary that we give a 
resurvey of the field, so that all may get a fuller conception of the 
work in hand, and its urgent needs, in order that the field may be 
developed in accordance with the large opportunities before us. 

At that time the work of Anklesvar, Vyara, and the Dangs was 
just beginning to open nicely, and there was hope of a large har- 
vest of souls. At Umalla, in Raj Pipla State, the undertaking had 
suffered a backset after the great famine, due to the lack of efficient, 
consecrated workers, but at the beginning of this period the out- 
look there was very bright and our missionaries were finding a 
great open field before them. At Jalalpor, Dahanu, and Vada our 
efforts are yet not very successful, as far as baptisms are con- 
cerned, nor have we succeeded to any very great extent in mould- 
ing public opinion to favor Christianity, though here and there 
were some few baptisms, and there are hopeful signs that indicate 
better days ahead. 

At Bulsar were the orphanages, which demanded a great deal of 
time and attention, and which were giving us a regular supply of 
workers. A number had gone to Umalla as farmers; others went 
into railway employment; some became .domestic servants here 
and there; still others left for Bombay, or for their former home. 
Here the work of evangelization has been carried on widely 


Page Three 


through regular, appointed workers and through the efforts of the 
boys and girls of the institution, but with no indigenous baptisms 
since the earlier days of the Mission in the nineties. 


At the time of that survey we had Pimpalner, a large territory 
east of the Dangs. This area indicated a rich harvest, but for lack 
of workers, distance from other scenes of labor, and the difficulty 
of access and of carrying on the work, and out of respect for the 
wishes of an adjoining mission, we abandoned this area in 1914. 


During the period covered by this survey the developments 
of the evangelistic enterprise have been considerable in the first 
four stations named above. Only a lack of competent leaders and 
teachers has kept us from fostering and pushing out into a great 
mass movement among the aboriginal peoples of these areas. 
These form about half of the population, and are open to us. Dur- 
ing this period numbers of them have come into the church and 
their children are now in our boarding and village schools. 
Through intermarriages the whole country is closely related and, 
once caste differences are overcome, the Christian movement among 
them spreads far and wide. Our great task then is to follow up 
and direct the movement into proper Christian channels and to 
instruct them in the ways of the Lord. It has been no uncommon 
incident to have delegations of people come from villages ten to 
forty miles distant, asking for teachers. We have found that the 
greatest hindrance to the full fruition of the evangelistic work is 
the terrible ignorance of the masses and the consequent supersti- 
tion. When you know that 5.2 per cent of the male and only 1.4 
per cent of the female population is under instruction in Bombay 
Presidency, you will not wonder that the masses whom we reach 
and influence are largely ignorant and in a backward condition. 
And seeing this condition the Mission is impressed with the 
thought that our greatest hope is in the new generation. 

The period under review has brought to the front some great 
church problems, such as divorce, remarriage, plural marriage, 
questions relating to heathen practices, rights of other Christians 


Page Four 


in our midst, etc. During this time there has been marked im- 
provement in the Christian community, and a readiness on their 
part to help us grapple with the many serious problems of the 
work and the church. Seven were elected to the ministry, one of 
whom was recently called away by death. The first class from the 
Bible School was graduated and sent out for work. Three men 
students and three women students graduated from the Govern- 
ment Normal. Ten other students have taken Normal 
training, and two of them have passed the second-year examina- 
tion; three more are in the second year. The three men gradu- 
ates, after several years’ experience as teachers, have been ap- 
pointed educational inspectors for our Mission Schools under the 
direction of our director of education, Bro. Long. There are now 
five girls in Normal training. 


This period has seen the beginning and development of our 
boarding-school policy. Up to this time we had only orphanages, 
but these were rapidly becoming depleted, till in the middle of the 
period there were fewer than forty orphans in the two orphanages. 
Now these institutions are receiving children from Christian homes 
and from other sources, and are growing again. The first estab- 
lishment under the name of boarding-school was started at Vyara 
in 1911 to reach the village children, and since then similar ones 
have been located in all our stations. 


During this period the evangelistic and educational work in 
the villages has been fully organized, the missionaries making 
larger use of more capable men as supervisors of areas in which 
teachers are employed in village schools. This leads to more 
efficient supervision of the activities, and takes from the mission- 
ary much of the detail work which often is so trying. This ar- 
rangement allows the missionary to give his time to the larger 
problems and tasks of the field. 


In 1913 and 1915 our doctors came to India and reéstablished 
the medical work, necessitating large building operations at Bulsar 
and Dahanu. 

Page Five 


Perhaps there have been few times in the history of the 
Mission when the missionary force was more tried than during 
this period. Men recruits have been very few, scarcely enough to 
make good our losses. Furloughs were due to tired missionaries, 
and the work, which had doubled and trebled, called for larger and 
more extensive efforts. The church did not respond and send us 
the men, and as a result there were broken-down missionaries to 
be laid off from work, making it the harder for the others. 


In the seven years there have been 1,270 baptisms. Jan. 1, 
1911, the church membership was 527, and on Jan. 1, 1918, it was 
1,628. The Sunday-schools have increased from forty-three, with 
an enrollment of 1,102, to seventy-three, with an enrollment of 
2,217. Then there were six churches; now there are nine. 


The Field 


Our territory is a narrow strip lying between the Arabian 
Sea and the Western Ghats (mountains), extending from the 
Nerbudda River on the north to the Vaitarna and Tansa Rivers 
on the south. It is about 175 miles long and from forty to ninety 
miles wide. To reach Vada, our southernmost station, and Ahwa, in 
the Dangs, we pass through the foothills and mountains, while at 
Umalla we are close to the foothills, as we are also at Palghar, 
and much of the work lies beyond these. In fact, we can see the 
hills and mountains from every station. 

This area is intersected by numerous rivers and streams, many 
of which are almost dry during the hot season, but during the 
rains are raging torrents. None afford means of navigation for 
any long period, except where affected by the tides. The southern 
part of the field receives a very heavy rainfall, often 100 inches or 
more, while at the northern stations the rainfall is about half that 
amount. 

From Bulsar south the main crops are rice, sugar cane, small 
grains, hay and fruits, the mango being the most common. North 
from Bulsar, cotton, rice, juwar and small grains are extensively 


Page Six 


grown, the cotton around Jalalpor being among the best raised in 
India. In the mountainous country rice and a small prolific grain 
called nagli are produced. 


The total area of this field is 7,054 square miles, containing a 
population of 1,185,027, an average of 168 per square mile. In the 
Dangs the area is the third largest, though the population in the 
more heavily forested parts is very sparse, giving for the whole of 
the Dangs an average of only twenty-nine per square mile, while 
in the Bulsar county there are 428 per square mile. Throughout 
the entire field we have only four towns of more than 10,000 
population; viz., Bulsar, Navsari, Anklesvar, and Nandod, giving 
us a very large rural population. There is a total of about 3,000 
towns and villages. Of the nearly one and a fourth million people, 
701,771 belong to the backward classes. These are almost entirely 
from the several sections of the Aboriginals. Caste unity is not 
so marked among these people, and already we have converts 
from nearly every one of them. Besides the Aboriginals there is 
a very large caste of Hindus, called Kolis, who are quite favorable 
to Christianity. We have had a few baptisms from them and 
there are others who are applicants. 


The possibilities before us will be more easily understood if 
we bear in mind that in the four regions now most open to us, and 
where already hundreds have been baptized (namely, Anklesvar, 
Umalla, Vyara and Ahwa), there are over 250,000 of these back- 
ward and reachable classes. The amount of work, the numbers 
we can reach, the number of churches we can plant, will depend 
very largely on our ability to supply the workers and the means 
to teach, direct and shepherd the multitudes among whom, already, 
public opinion is turned toward Christianity. 


Then look again at your tables and see that in Bulsar and 
Jalalpor areas, which include the native states of Dharampur and 
Bansda, there are over 250,000 more of these backward peoples. 
It is encouraging to know that at these places, where for many 
years prejudice was dead against us, and our many years of effort 


Page Seven 


were so fruitless, last year there were several baptisms from the 
largest two classes of these people, and also from two Hindu 
castes, one of them being among the highest of the Hindus. It is 
worth noting that in no case have those becoming Christians been 
outcasted or ostracized, though in several cases there was con- 
siderable stir for a short time. In these parts the outlook is ever 
so much brighter than it has been for twenty years. 


Another glance at the tables will show that Dahanu, Palghar, 
and Vada give us a large area with 200,000 more of these people. 
In the main these are the same as we are reaching at the other 
places, though as yet there is not so much response among them. 


In this large field we have five mission stations in the Gujarati 
language area; namely, Anklesvar, Umalla (Raj Pipla), Jalalpor, 
Vyara, and Bulsar, besides the work of the District Board at 
Rudha, which is included in the Anklesvar area. 


In the Marathi language area we have Ahwa (Dangs), Dahanu, 
Vada, and recently the committee voted to make Palghar a station 
also, making in all our field nine stations. 


Anklesvar, Jalalpor, Bulsar, Ahwa, Dahanu, Vada, and Palghar 
are in British territory, while Umalla and Vyara are in native 
states—Raj Pipla and Baroda—the latter being one of the most 
progressive states in India. These nine mission stations include 
territory comprising twenty governmental divisions, correspond- 
ing to counties, but not inclusive of the different divisions of the 
native states of Raj Pipla, Dharampur, Bansda, and Jawar. These 
are counted as single divisions. This gives us more than two 
divisions per station, and sixteen of them are more than 100 
square miles each in extent, and nine are more than 300 square 
miles. 


Below are the different divisions classified according to sta- 
tions, showing how each station has a very large field for work 
and development in itself. 


Page Eight 


Station Statistics 


Sit as 
) n 
vt OS 
ie = 
Stations Ps Als ce 
n ° oh eae n A 
2) 2 lgie| 2] § 
PCa ree ea lygeny hi RtThOd bite 
Sa see ie 
oA 8, EN Mey oad Bl ae 69 
Anklesvar 
es BAA RIPE Oo tiaty ce cys Ci tsl'vin staiale wale ap. ec ke bia la] a's eels 45,083 |...| 57} 5,610 | 22,094 
PEATE ROT otis del cis Cat PUA SA MEN ews aos bid 307 23,844 |221] 47) 3,453 | 5,989 
AMATO ots ei tse Kat oe ne cen eA ae votes teas He 130*| 27,431 |...| 58] 2,500*| 15,000* 
Umalla 
BERT ES Gay aa adie ied Wort oeelhee Sbetae as see es ek 1,517 | 161,588 |107|] 682|10,857 |108,097 
Jalalpor 
PRIAIIOE Serres dats sence k need eb lest peacees 184 75,252 |...| 91] 9,400 | 28,238 
Gand eas eed aa cia aelaeire Pose ches ce cetcele 80*| 33,058 |...| 30) 2,000*| 10,000* 
WEG Tweed ae te ecele rote eeicTa ne ake are elects 125*| 39,744 1328} 69] 2,500*| 25,000* 
Bans apes Santee ae detent neataiats oeale 215 44,594 |...) 86] 1,417 | 38,428 
NERA clita asses sya ue CU Cae Lets Wha ctr) 107 40,000 |...] 43] 3,600 | 26,410 
Nayisare COW aiekion css cnnces ee re eta ata til ote ele: ate 20,000*}... 1} 8,000*| 3,000* 
Vyara 
a ge IAT, OR AN rr Gee Ee, Ran ee 651 S7477 [eies| 194] 4,000") «<5 0ye 
ST MICO en ada atin dis races theese ab Wald Aes | 42,446 [173] 224] 3,000*| 60,000* 
NEM Meat Wi eine Foci e aie a ne aioe Hetmiale crete pastes pie | 80*| 27,270 |...] 39] 2,265 | 19,949 
Ahwa 
DAN TS eR Ore chee area tas ele ia aac ania « 996 29,345 | 33] 315] 121 | 27,848 
ULE AN Aver cN chia tcetairecle came antennal beeiye s 360 15.180) fe 58] 141 | 13,308 
Bulsar 
UL S ar eee ie SOE cide ie Sata Mamas al rears 209 89,404 |...} 95)|10,988 | 46,549 
SAO Lticlisme settee ta tet ee tains renee s 60 22,774 |233} 20] 1,528 | 13,215 
EI NAFAMP Utero eae nA T Ne steel aoe 704 | 114,995 |...] 270] 1,763 |102,444 
Dahanu 
DIB AIT atti ac tn Coricle ooMe a eons 329 84,673 |216|] 133] 3,597 | 45,272 
AWATM OLA TC eoeh ee chic tector emt Asiias a talons 310 53,489 |...| 105} 748 | 43,148 
Palghar, 
WEA Tater mre iota cere re os Rattns claire ares 406 92,958 {229} 187) 3,415 | 29,465 
Vada 
WEE eo) Real ee alta Ae ne Be AL eae OR 283 44,372 | 78| 159] 1,121 | 18,317 
POC el SHUR hy Moers Satie et oe Caleta ac ee MEO dae NTE |7,054 |1,185,027 |168|2,865|82,022 |707,771 


*Approximate, based on figures for adjoining territory. 


Are you looking for a big place? Any one of the above 
divisions would be considered a great place, big enough for most 
any man, and yet, the missionaries are thinking in terms of the 
larger areas represented by stations, looking out into these large 


Page Nine 


fields with thousands and hundreds of thosands of reachable peo- 
ples, and forward to the time when there will be a membership in 
India equal to and even more than in the home church, 


Evangelistic 

To evangelize the multitudes is the great work of the mis- 
sionary, and all other agencies should support this chief and fore- 
most work. The medical, educational, social, and industrial are 
all good in their place and very necessary for the full fruition and 
development of the work, but they are means to an end and not 
the end to be sought. In whatever department the missionary may 
be engaged, he must always bear in mind the Lord’s commission 
to preach the Gospel to every creature, and to make disciples of 
all nations. 

The field we occupy in India is one of exceptional opportuni- 
ties. Among the masses belonging to one great class—the 
Aboriginals—we have much less caste rigidity and unity than in 
many other places. Further, these are not the “ untouchables” 
about whom we so often read in literature, and this fact places 
our work on a higher and more respectable social basis in the eyes 
of the other people. These people are, especially farther back 
from the coast, less influenced by real Hinduism, and are more 
open to receive the message of salvation, as did the “common 
people” in our Lord’s time. In fact, these are almost a people 
without a religion and religious leaders, as they often have testi- 
fied to us. And already, in places, there is a very marked response, 
the doors are opening, and there are great days ahead of us. 

Anklesvar. Total population, 96,360; backward classes, 43,083. 
At this place large numbers have come into the church. Public 
opinion among them is favorable to Christianity, though they are 
often intimidated and in some cases have even been turned against 
us, by those who are their masters or money-lenders. Ignorance 
and superstition afford mighty fine tools for the evil one, and he 
makes good use of them every chance he has. However, in time 
the devil gets caught in his own trap, and the people see their 
Page Ten 


mistake. The way is open for thousands more, in spite of beatings, 
threats, being dragged before the courts on false charges, im- 
prisonment, and persecution of various sorts. The people have 
found out that the missionaries are their true friends and that 
Christianity is the true way. There have been riots, even, and 
because of one such we have not been able for several years to 
occupy a certain village where we have a small church, but the 
good work goes on. The church has grown in members, and 
every communion occasion sees increasing numbers present to 
partake of the sacred emblems. Frequent gatherings for singing, 
testimony and instruction are strong features of the work there. 
Wherever possible, Christian teachers have been placed in villages 
to teach, direct, and lead the people in the ways of the Lord. The 
field is ripe unto the harvest, but the laborers are all too few. 


To reach the women is a hard task, but here quite a number 
of them have been baptized, and the work is growing among them. 
Our sisters find easier access to the homes of the people and are 
doing all they can to bring to the women and children the message 
of hope and salvation. There are great possibilities in this field, 
not only among the Aboriginals, but among some Hindu classes 
who are closely associated with them and are much influenced by 
the work we are doing among the former people. 


Umalla (Raj Pipla). From time to time the work in this 
territory was designated under the station head of Vali. The rail- 
way station and postoffice is Umalla, and Vali is three miles away. 
Up to this time all of our missionaries have lived at Vali, but now 
we are building for the unmarried ladies at Umalla, at the rail- 
way station, and later will build there for the evangelist also. The 
boarding school and industrial work will be at Vali, though the 
station name is Umalla in this survey. 


During the great famine of 1900 much hard work was done in 
this large area by Bro. McCann. A good deal of famine relief was 
given in the form of grain and money. However, some took ad- 
vantage of the gratuitous help and later refused to keep their 


Page Eleven 


promises. Also some of those to whom the work was entrusted 
during those strenuous times, did not afford the proper example of 
Christian living to the people, and from these and other causes the 
work there suffered a severe backset. It has taken much time and 
effort to overcome the evil influences and lethargy. During the 
period of this survey, many who had grown cold and had dropped 
back into their old ways have been reclaimed, and there have been 
a number of baptisms every year, showing a healthy and substan- 
tial growth. Now there are two church organizations, one at Vali 
and the other at Amletha. The Christians are not socially ostra- 
cized, and have freedom to move among and mix with their own 
people. This gives a great opportunity for expansion and develop- 
ment. The people are open-hearted, ready to follow one who can 
really lead them forward. Here is a great open door among these 
100,000 people, nearly all of one tribe. The extent of the work we 
can do there depends very much on how effectually we support it 
with men and means. A reachable people, already hundreds of 
them in the church, the doors to their hearts and homes open to 
us, and in numbers equal to the membership of the Brethren 
church. What an opportunity! 


Jalalpor. Total population, 252,648; backward classes, 131,076. 
Here a great deal of evangelistic and educational work has been 
done, in the villages, but with meagre results. For a while the 
field was almost abandoned, as far as evangelistic effort was con- 
cerned. Of late years there has been growing up a marked change 
of attitude among the people, and the door is opening. There have 
been a few isolated baptisms from time to time, but during the 
last two years a number more, and there are indications that this 
area will yet give us many souls for the Lord. Another plan of 
work was adopted, similar to that which had brought results at 
other localities. A few strong men were stationed in central 
places, and they gradually brought under their influence some 
teachers and leaders of the people, whom we are reaching else- 
where. These teachers are placed in schools under the close 
supervision of these strong men. The results have been good. A 
Page Twelve 


number of teachers and young men have been baptized from the 
two main divisions, while there are also two from a Hindu caste 
called Kolis, and two from one of the highest castes. It is most 
interesting to know that in neither case have they been outcasted 
or ostracized. This gives a tremendous advantage, and it is quite 
uncommon in the annals of missions in India. Others of these 
Hindu castes are applicants, and we hope for great things in this 
area, which for so long was so unresponsive. 


For the present the evangelistic activities for the women of 
Jalalpor and Bulsar areas will be directed from Jalalpor, but the 
territory is too large for effectual work. Either territory is a big 
field for any man or woman. Think of it! Two hundred and fifty 
thousand of the reachable classes, besides these others who are 
responding. And praise God, after these many years of waiting 
and labor in both areas, they are turning to the Lord. 


Vyara. Population, 127,193; backward classes, 79,949. When 
our missionaries entered this area, in 1905, it was virgin soil, as 
far as Christian work was concerned. The first years were spent 
in language study and in itineration, studying the field and the 
people and making known to them the plan of salvation. Prior to 
1911 only a few converts had been won from the indigenous com- 
munity. Since then this has been one of our most fruitful areas. 
The work started among a class of people who were numbered 
there by the many thousands. In later years we have been reach- 
ing another large class also, and the influence is spreading among 
all these peoples. Bro. Long wrote the forepart of last year that 
if he had the teachers and workers to teach and shepherd them 
properly, he could baptize a thousand people by the end of the 
year. Drink has brought untold ruin to these people, and our 
Christians are constantly tempted and urged to drink by those who 
seek their ruin or to prey upon them financially. However, much 
to the credit of the workers and the true spirit of the people, as 
it has been repeatedly told us, in those villages where there are 
Christians there is a noticeable decrease in the consumption of 


Page Thirteen 


liquor and an increase in land being tilled. During these years 
there has been much persecution, but in spite of all this the work 
has grown in power and influence. Recently a communion service 
was held, when 166 were at the tables and many more were turned 
away for lack of room. There is good argument here for building 
a large churchhouse. Later at one or two places in the villages 
they had communion service also for the village Christians, who 
recently were won from the ranks of the evil one. Many of the 
women also have been reached in late years, and there is a grow- 
ing appreciation of religion by these people, who know so little 
about God and holy things, 


Vyara is in a native state, and it has been hard to get permis- 
sion to buy the land we needed. Lately permission was given to 
buy land close to the compound, but not in the villages, where we 
need it so much for location of schools and houses for workers 
and for worship. Our educational and industrial work, along with 
our social efforts, is gradually undermining the prejudices against 
our religious propaganda. Here is one of the greatest opportuni- 
ties in the Mission for a mass movement affecting hundreds of 
villages and many thousands of people. 


Ahwa (Dangs). Total population, 46,525; backward classes, 
21,152. This was the one opportunity of the Mission to begin at 
the bottom. There were no educated people, no teachers, no 
schools, no Christians, no artisans—only thousands of simple peo- 
ple, exploited by the money lenders, liquor dealers, traveling sales- 
men, and timber contractors. Much prejudice has been overcome, 
and the people are looking to the missionary and his helpers more 
and more for justice, and as leaders, not only spiritually, but in 
every way. Each year the number coming into the church is on 
the increase, which is very encouraging. Last year thirty-five were 
baptized, and the door is opening wider and wider. The homes 
are open, the hearts are open, and a worthy beginning has been 
made. It is up to the church to make it possible to enter into in- 
creasing opportunities for good in this most backward region. 


Page Fourteen 


Recently there was a communion service attended by over sixty 
who have come into the church. 


In a country so backward it falls to the missionary to do with 
his own hands many things which at other places could be dele- 
gated to others, but in this he often finds his opportunity to get 
close to the life and hearts of the people. 


Bulsar. Total population, 227,173; backward classes, 162,208. 
This is our oldest station, and yet, from an evangelistic angle, few 
places in the Mission have given a smaller number of indigenous 
converts. There is a church here of over 200 membership, but 
most of them are from famine time and from other parts. In the 
nineties several were baptized from among the outcastes here. 
Some Christians from the North, who are from these same “ un- 
touchables,” came to us, a number of them continuing to carry on 
their trade, common to the low-caste people, while others became 
workers. Some of the latter were placed in the villages, but they 
failed to live consistent Christian lives, and the people became 
prejudiced against us. They did not reach their own people, and 
closed the door for reaching others. For a long period of time, 
though much evangelistic work was done, and a great effort was 
made through schools and Sunday-schools to reach the people, the 
area was as a “closed door” to us. 


In the course of years conditions in the Christian community 
changed. Our Christians gradually attained to a condition of more 
respect and influence. Many of the things that tended to preju- 
dice the minds of the people, by degrees disappeared, and now the 
outlook is ever so much more hopeful. 


In January, 1916, an experienced worker was sent to Wankal, 
fourteen miles out east from Bulsar. Here we had an inefficient 
worker in former years. Our man was not welcome, and was told 
plainly that they know our message and what we stand for. 
But he found a place and staid on. His first task was to overcome 
much prejudice, to make ourselves desirable in the community, 
and to gain the good will and respect of the people. Since in 


Page Fifteen 


those early days our religion was counterfeited, naturally we said 
less at first about religion. We had to find an avenue of approach 
and contact. Three years have brought about a marked change. 
We now have ready access to the homes of the people, and our 
message in most places is readily heard. A year ago one of the 
highest of these backward peoples was baptized. He is a teacher 
of some standing and ability, but still there was a commotion for 
a couple of months, and his people threatened to outcaste him. 
However, this was not done. Ina short time the dark clouds blew 
over, and now others are ready to follow him. Here at Bulsar a 
man from the second large class of these people was baptized, and 
we have hopes for others. These are Dordias and Dublos, and 
there is an increasing awakening among them for education and 
reform. Now is an opportunity to get hold of these people, and 
the outlook is very encouraging. Numbers of their children are in 
our Auxiliary Boarding School at Wankal, where each day they 
are taught the tenets of Christianity. 


Dahanu. Total population, 138,162; backward classes, 88,420. 
This was the fourth station in the Mission to be opened. Most of 
the area is very backward, and very many villages are still without 
schools. The caste and economic conditions here are perhaps 
more difficult than in most of our stations. Much medical work 
has been done and good impressions made. However, of the in- 
digenous people only a few have become Christians, and so far 
there is no marked turning to the Lord. Recently one who seemed 
so favorable and moved near the compound to be near his work, 
left again to live among his own people. His wife had refused to 
come with him. After several months he could stand it no longer, 
and so went to his family and was taken back into caste. 


In this area is a caste of Hindus called Mithnas, numbering 
about a thousand souls. They are the only ones of this caste in 
India. They lost their land in the great famine and are poor. 
Much work has been done among them, and they are very favor- 
ably impressed. The Mission has hopes that in time they will 


Page Sixteen 


turn en masse. However, the pressure of the money-lender is con- 
stant and grinding, giving no freedom except as indicated by him. 
Farther back from the sea-coast and the railway, away from the 
harder influences of the towns, the people are more economically 
independent, of less caste rigidity, and more open to influence and 
help. 


Palghar (Mahim Taluka). Total population, 92,956; backward 
classes, 29,465. For many years it has been proposed to open a 
station here, better to connect with Vada and to strengthen our 
Marathi field. It is twenty-nine miles inland from here to Vada, 
and for the help of the Vada work, especially medically, it was 
decided to open this station. At the same time we are negotiating 
with the government for a suitable building site. We have had a 
Christian worker here at Palghar for some years, and there are 
several applicants for baptism reported. The headquarters for the 
medical work in the Marathi area will be shifted to this place from 
Dahanu. The buildings at Dahanu are such as can be easily used 
for the Girls’ Boarding School. At this place will also be the Bible 
School for the Marathi area and the main school for boys. 


Vada. Total population, 44,027; backward classes, 18,317. 
For some time after the death of Bro. Brubaker the Vada station 
was without a missionary, and the work almost closed. In 1915 
the Mission was able to send missionaries there again and the work 
has taken on new life. There have been three baptisms from 
among the village people, but as yet there is no marked public 
opinion in favor of Christianity as at some other places. Forceful 
and efficient Christian workers are needed. Progress has been 
hindered much because of plague and cholera. Bro, Kaylor was 
very ill from plague, and for months unable to do much, and then 
a little later Sister Kaylor was called home, and the work has had 
to suffer, from our way of looking at it. However, the mission- 
aries and the Indian workers have a splendid influence and live 
close to the people. We can hope that the period ahead of us will 
bring greater things for this backward region. 


Page Seventeen 


Educational 


In Bombay Presidency 4 per cent of the population is under 
instruction, while in the northern division, in which we are located, 
the percentage is 5.2. Of the male population 5.2 per cent for the 
presidency and 7.2 per cent for the northern division are in school, 
while in secondary instruction there is only 0.6 per cent for the 
presidency and 0.7 per cent for the northern division. Of the 
female population we find that there is 1.4 per cent for the presi- 
dency and 2.6 per cent for the division found in school; and it is 
worth knowing that in female education this presidency stands 
ahead of other portions of India. 


A fact of the greatest importance to us is that the government 
has awakened to the necessity of educating the masses, composed 
largely of the classes we are reaching and who are now open to 
us. They are pledged to a program of establishing a school in 
every village of one thousand or more population; and then, as 
soon as this is accomplished, in every village of five hundred or 
more. They recognize that their educational effort has been top- 
heavy in favor of secondary education; and while they cannot 
relinquish any effort in this direction, they must bring up the 
standard and extent of primary education, especially among the 
village people. Of late months many new schools have been 
established. 


We have the great opportunity now of fashioning and develop- 
ing our educational endeavors so as to swing in line with our 
religious efforts this great educational work of the government. 
We can not hope to have village schools for all these people, but we 
can train the forces to influence this large, reachable people towards 
Christianity and to bring them into vital touch with the claims of 
Christ our Lord. On the other hand, these masses will be more 
and more Hinduized and harder to reach if we are not awake to 
the necessity of the hour. 


In the area occupied by us there are about 240,000 of school 
age, and the number of literate people is given as only 82,022. Of 


Page Eighteen 


the backward classes there are in round numbers 700,000, or about 
140,000 of school age. Fewer than 10,000 of these are in school, 
or less than one and one-half per cent of the population of back- 
ward peoples. This gives us an appalling illiteracy condition to 
meet; but it is such as you will encounter everywhere in India 
outside of the cities and larger towns, and one which must be 
faced by every mission, large or small, except those few missions 
which devote their whole attention to work among the high 
castes. 


No one at home should conclude that, since there is so much 
ignorance, the mission field is no place for the best talent of the 
West. The best have none too much intelligence to meet the 
great problem of religion, education, society, and industry to be 
found on the mission field. Take the missionary register of all 
India, and you will be surprised to find that the missionaries 
represent such a high type of intelligence and ability. And not one 
of them will tell you that he finds his job too small for him. All 
around us are men of keen intellect, apt in philosophy and hunger- 
ing for the learning of the West; dissatisfied with their old forms 
of religion, demanding social reforms of various sorts, and com- 
manding places of power and influence in government and in society 
far beyond many of these Westerners, who think themselves too 
good and too brilliant and valuable for the mission field. 


However, in this low percentage of literacy and small popula- 
tion in school lie our great evangelistic, educational, social and 
economic problems. We dare not tolerate a condition of ignorance 
and superstition as a basis for spiritual growth and church disci- 
pline. Success in evangelistic work brings with it great and intri- 
cate questions, and the key to their solution will be found in and 
through sound, thorough, well-rounded-out Christian education of 
the head, heart and hands. 


The Anklesvar, Vyara, Bulsar and Jalalpor divisions are the 
most forward, educationally, and in some of them nearly half of 
the school-age children are in school. In the Ahwa area, out of a 


Page Nineteen 


population of over 46,000, there are fewer than 200 in school. To 
our knowledge the first boy in Dangs to go to school was brought 
into our Mission schools by Bro. Pittenger, and he has been a 
teacher among his own people. 

In 1917-18 Bulsar County had seventy-one schools, in which 
were 9,865 pupils out of a population of 89,404 in ninety-five towns 
and villages; while in Dharampor State, of 114,995 population in 
270 towns and villages there were only twenty-five schools and 
1,140 pupils. In Vyara area, in Baroda State, there is compulsory 
education, but only partially effective. 

Up to the time of this period our educational work centered 
in the orphanges established in the time of the great famine. 
These had been consolidated into one for boys and one for girls at 
Bulsar. The thought then was to free the missionaries as much 
as possible for evangelistic work; but seemingly sight was lost of 
the fact that successful evangelistic work means increased educa- 
tional effort through not only village schools, but other institu- 
tions. One of the missions of India which is now strong in educa- 
tional activities was founded in protest against the strong educa- 
tional policy of some other missions; however, their educational 
work is largely the outgrowth of their evangelistic effort, rather 
than preceding it. 


Some had hoped that the village school could be so well 
established and managed as to make it unnecessary to have 
boarding schools which are so common in the work of missions 
in India. Experience has shown us that the boarding schools are 
of prime importance. Here we can give a strong environment and 
the best facilities for training the brightest of the new generation 
in the Christian life, so that they become efficient workers and 
leaders in their communities. 

Jan. 1, 1911, there were forty-four schools conducted by the 
Mission, including fourteen night schools, with an enrollment of 
871 pupils. Seven years later the number of schools had increased 
to 106, with a total enrollment of 2,252, Then there were thirty- 


Page Twenty 


one teachers. Now there are 129. It should be noted that of the 
total enrollment there are only 216 girls, making it very impera- 
tive that we put forth greater effort to bring larger numbers of 
them into our schools. 


The first boarding school for the children of our local areas 
was established at Vyara in August, 1911. The demand has grown 
until now we have boarding schools for either boys or girls or 
both at all our stations, except Palghar. Some are small and yet 
unorganized and in unsatisfactory quarters; but they are growing 
and new quarters are being built. Jan. 1, 1911, the only children 
we had were in the orphanages, there being then sixty-five boys 
and fifty-six girls. Now there are in all our boarding schools a 
total of about 500, and because of the famine and influenza the 
number is rapidly increasing. At Umalla a foundling home recently 
was established to care for the small children who were left mother- 
less as a result of the influenza epidemic and famine. There are 
in this home eighteen children and the number is increasing. 


Educational Policy 


Wherever there are schools by government or private parties, 
doing good work, we try to lend every encouragement consistent 
with Christian principles, and in no case do we establish mission 
schools at such places unless the density and location of the 
population or the interests of the Christian community demand 
them. 


It is the policy of the Mission, as much as possible, to have 
educational advantages for her converts, either through the use of 
schools already established, or by founding mission schools in 
their midst. We also establish schools in the villages yet un- 
evangelized, for the general educational uplift of the people, and 
also as evangelistic agencies; and in view of the many thousands 
of reachable classes yet unevangelized, this work of maintaining 
village schools, as agencies for winning the multitudes to the Lord, 
should be pushed as rapidly as we can train the teachers and 


supply supervision of the funds. 
Page Twenty-one 


It is the plan of the Mission to maintain at our several sta- 
tions boarding schools, where we can have the best-trained teach- 
ers, the best educational and industrial equipment, and where we 
can give them the best Christian influences and discipline. 


In each language area, Gujerati and Marathi, there will be 
one main school for boys and one for girls. These main schools 
are to provide equipment and staff for all grades, and for prepara- 
tory and normal training, and for English education as deemed 
advisable. There is a great demand for English education, and 
both these institutions may, in time, become middle and high 
schools as an outgrowth of our large educational policy and 
endeavor. At present, in order to meet the needs of the great vil- 
lage population open to us, we are placing emphasis on vernacular 
education, so that as many as are able can enter the normal train- 
ing which is in the vernacular language. In these main schools 
there should be also supplementary courses in home economics 
for the girls, and in agriculture and mechanics for the boys. 

The local boarding schools established at the other stations 
will teach through fourth and fifth standards, in the case of girls, 
and through the fifth or sixth in the case of boys. After that the 
capable students will be sent to the main schools. The curriculum 
as outlined by government is one standard less for girls than 
for boys. 


These local boarding schools are as follows: 


Umalla. Near this place is Vali, where the institution for the 
boys of the Anklesvar-Umalla areas is located. The fifty boys at 
Anklesvar will be removed here. This, together with the sixty- 
five boys already here and others coming in, will soon make this 
a school of 200 boys or more. Here the Mission has about 160 
acres of land, much of which is available for the agricultural work 
in connection with the school industries. A small portion of the 
dormitories was erected last year and another portion is being 
erected this year. Five thousand dollars is needed to complete 
these quarters. The day-school is now held on the verandas of the 


Page Twenty-two 


church; but soon a school building will be needed, costing 
approximately $7,000. 


In the Anklesvar-Umalla area is one of the ripest and most 
pressing educational opportunities in the Mission. It is “ripe unto 
the harvest,” and a great big harvest, too, awaiting the Christian 
laborer. 


Anklesvar. Here is to be the main girls’ school. The forty- 
five girls at Bulsar and the thirty-five at Anklesvar will be brought 
together into the one school and boarding. The girls of the 
Umalla-Anklesvar areas are to be accommodated here. It is 
planned to make this a first-class institution, with the best equip- 
ment and staff we can provide. Female education needs every 
encouragement it is possible for us to give. If we are ever to 
have a real success we must not only evangelize the women, but 
we must, through our boarding schools, raise up a standard of 
womanhood which will tell for righteousness, cleaner environment, 
higher ideals of life and better homes. The plans for this school 
are made to allow of growth beyond the number of 250 girls. We 
are trying to get a piece of land adjoining the Mission compound 
on which to erect this institution, which will cost, approximately, 
$12,000 for the dormitories and $12,000 for the schoolbuilding. 

Vyara. This station, being distant from our other educational 
institutions in Gujerat, makes it necessary for us to have boarding 
schools here for both boys and girls. There are seventy boys and 
forty girls in these institutions. The number of boys is to be 
increased to 125 and the girls to 100. The native state govern- 
ment maintains boarding schools for boys here and at Songhad, 
ten miles east, and also at Moha, sixteen miles southwest. At 
Songhad they have one for girls. In these government institu- 
tions are the same kind of boys and girls that we have. There are 
few places in the Mission where there is a more ready response 
to the work of the Mission than here. For the last several years 
we have had to turn away many boys who applied for a place in 
the boarding school. To get girls has been a long, hard pull; but 
they are coming. 

Page Twenty-three 


The churches represented by the Botetourt Memorial Circle, 
Daleville, Va., have given over $3,000 for this girls’ institution. 
To complete the dormitories $3,000 more will be needed, and for 
a suitable schoolbuilding $6,000. For the boys’ dormitories $3,000 
is needed above that already provided, and for schoolbuilding 
$6,000. There are great things in store for us at this place, and 
there is a much larger opportunity than this plan calls for. Whether 
we can reach the higher possibilities is for the church to say. 


Jalalpor. At this place we are establishing the local boarding 
school for girls for Jalalpor-Bulsar areas. Each of these is com- 
modious enough to furnish students for large institutions. In fact, 
there will be for some time to come a greater demand for educa- 
tion in these parts than you will find in most any other portion of 
the mission field. It is the thought of the Mission to have fewer 
but better and stronger schools, though there is a remarkable 
awakening among some of these Hindu peoples. Here and there 
are springing up boarding institutions supported by benefactions 
and fees and manned by Hindus, Parsees and Mohammedans 
themselves in order that their boys may have better school facili- 
ties than the ordinary schools afford. However, these efforts do 
not yet reach the girls. We have the chance to lead the way and 
we hope for an encouraging response. A caste convert has offered 
his three daughters as the beginning of this institution, which will 
be opened soon. If we are ever to make our work a real success 
we must reach the women and girls. This institution is to accom- 
‘modate at least 150 girls. Seven thousand dollars is needed for 
dormitories and $7,000 for schoolbuilding. 


_ Ahwa (Dangs). This place is in the Marathi language area 
and.is isolated from the other three Marathi stations, so it is 
necessary to provide for both boys and girls. The people of this 
most backward region thought they were doing the Mission a favor 
when they sent their boys to school. They were also very 
suspicious of our motives and could hardly believe that we were 
there for their good. Slowly their fears and prejudices have been 


Page Twenty-four 


overcome, and now there are twenty-five children in these boarding 
schools. We will provide accommodations for eighty boys and 
sixty-five girls. Four thousand dollars for dormitories for 
girls and $4,000 for schoolbuilding; while for the boys’ quarters 
about $5,000 for dormitory and $5,000 for school, are needed. In 
view of the backwardness and low economic condition it is very 
necessary that we make our educational endeavor there very 
strongly industrial and practical. 


Bulsar. Here we have the main school for boys. Seventy- 
three are enrolled, though only forty-five are in the boarding 
department. Here we have easy access to the town high school, 
which is one of the best in Bombay Presidency; but as the inter- 
ests of the Mission and the Christian community enlarge and the 
number of Christians students increases, it is probable that it will 
be necessary to have our own high school. The future will make 
it clear as to the best course to pursue. The present dormitories 
will accommodate about 100 boys, and in a few years it is expected 
that most of this room will be needed for students in the training 
department, which begins with the seventh standard. Seventeen 
boys are in the seventh and preparatory classes now. For the 
indigenous children in the grades of the Jalalpor-Bulsar areas it 
is proposed either to get a new compound here or locate the insti- 
tution at Chikli, which is the more central and is accessible to the 
250,000 backward peoples of this, the largest educational area we 
have. For the industrial and agricultural work it is necessary to 
have a good deal of land, and it is hard to find it here within 
reach at almost any price. The present compound does not afford 
sufficient room for all purposes. In this auxiliary boarding school 
we shall need accommodations for 200 or more boys. For dormi- 
tories, $9,000 will be required for a new schoolbuilding. Present 
classrooms will be used for dormitory quarters. There now are 
fifty-five boys at Wankal, who will be removed to the permanent 
place once buildings are provided. They are in only temporary 
quarters. 

Page Twenty-five 


Dahanu. At this place there is a boarding school for boys 
and small quarters are under construction for girls. It has been 
decided to make Palghar a station, so the boys will be moved there 
when suitable buildings are erected. The main school for girls 
will be at Dahanu, which will also accommodate the girls of the 
local Dahanu-Palghar areas. Lately the famine condition has 
placed several girls under our care, and probably more will follow. 
The economic, social and religious condition in these parts is hard, 
and our greatest hope is in the new generation. The dispensary 
here will be a part of the boarding-school plan after the medical 
work is removed to Palghar. Quarters for 150 girls will need 
$3,000 more, and for the school $9,000. 


Palghar. Here everything is to be built up from the ground. 
The main school for boys for the Marathi area will be at this place, 
also accommodating boys from the local Dahanu-Palghar areas. 
For 200 boys the cost of the dormitories will be $10,000, and for 
school, $10,000. This school will’ reach a total backward popula- 
tion of 117,885, and will be the best and only place where they can 
sit in an environment conducive to their highest interests. Many 
of these young people do not continue in government school long, 
because they are not welcome in classes with the Hindus, and they 
soon find it out and leave school. 


Vada. This place has no railway connection, and it is a hard 
drive of twenty-nine miles through the mountains to Palghar, the 
nearest station. Here have been started institutions for boys and 
girls. This is a very backward region, and it is hard to get teach- 
ers to come in for work. Our hope is in the boarding schools, 
giving us a source of workers from the indigenous community. 
Jawar State is close here, and it is possible that the schools here 
may reach the many backward children of that region better than 
from Dahanu and Palghar, though the only good roads are from 
the latter places. Accommodations for sixty-five boys and fifty 
girls will be needed. The cost will be $4,000 for dormitories and 
$4,000 for schoolbuildings for each. 


Page Twenty-six 


The above program calls for a minimum number of 790 girls 
and 945 boys, or a total of 1,735 children in our boarding schools. 
At this writing there are a few over 500, and on account of famine 
and influenza the numbers will increase very rapidly this year. 
In these lies our largest hope, looking to the permanency of our 
work and real progress. Though many of these children come 
from non-Christian homes, you can count on it that after the 
first prejudices and difficulties are removed, fully 95 per cent of 
them will come into the church. We believe that, dollar for 
dollar, this agency will give results equal to or more than any 
other one agency we can adopt. To make the evangelistic effort 
permanently effectual we must very largely fall back on the educa- 
tional agency, mostly centered in these institutions. 


Once the boarding schools are more popular and the religious 
prejudices are overcome, we can make the entrance requirements 
stiffer, and the age and grade of the students will be gradually 
raised, till eventually we can accept only those who have come up 
in the higher standards. 


The Field—Educational Areas 


o 
n 
@ 2 
= 3 
® is a) 
Educational Areas = g se) os 
na] ae 5 o rm 

cD) 3 i) pc! > 

I 3 hy bea 

5 a = v ) 

o ° oo Pures 3 
so delel s salut Aue BS TS TTS CN SEERA GU A re 
UM IPOV ARSC Alte UM Viet aa hubris inselcd nace vacates ee 1,954| 247,948| 844|22,420|151,180 
AVEV cl Tumi ate ovelevaly ais ctorete aia tiecas leiere min iehiustolersva/eielera custchele-slenms Goteleis 731| 127,193} 417| 9,263| 79,949 
PANU a AU Gee Llctena vB sree CH NERD GEEK dove ods tied elemel 11,356] 44,375] 315] 262) 41,156 
Bilsare) alal porwr ser sets ate cen co elses cig coerce eee aeielers |1,684| 429,821] 704|41,196|293,284 
Dahantihalmharviy: pocuasae sews saciicwas re motece Mes eee 1,045) 231,118] 425) 7,760|117,885 
RRR REN ether cs hic y atee aba ee dedtitale yp sad Soins 283| 44,372| 159| 1,121| 18,317 

Tata eee Fecha mente ok pe \7,054|1,185,027|2,865|82,022|701,771 


Page Twenty-seven 


Bible and Teacher-Training School 


We are here primarily as religious propagandists, and our 
workers and teachers all strive to the same end, of reaching the 
people religiously. To do this properly they must not only know 
the Bible, but must be spiritually fit for the task. This makes the 
work of the Bible School and teacher-training of prime importance. 
Two years ago last December the first class was graduated from 
the Bible department. Since then three of the graduates have 
been elected to the ministry. Another class will start this coming 
June under the leadership and teaching of Bro. E. H. Eby. The 
side rooms to the church afford a good place and ample space for 
the work, while behind the church there are rooms for the students. 


We had one class in teacher-training and Bible at Bulsar, and 
for under-grade workers we have had one class at Vyara, another 
being in session there now. The students in this Normal for 
undergraduates are mostly of the village people. A special effort 
is made to strengthen them spiritually, and to make them fit wit- 
nesses for the Master. 


It is the aim of the Mission to have at least the first-year 
normal course as outlined by the government, and with govern- 
ment recognition. This means that the students will take the 
government examination and receive their certificates from the 
government, which, for the standing of the school and for the 
students, will mean much. By having our own first year we can 
give them Bible instruction along with their other work, and this 
is most important, seeing that a number of the students are those 
who have secured their education in other schools, and know 
nothing of the Bible, except what they have learned since being 
with us. Further, this first-year Normal will reach the bulk of 
those who may be able to attend any such institution. It is en- 
couraging to note that lately our director of education met the 
government divisional educational inspector (a Christian), regard- 
ing this matter, and found that the government will recognize and 
encourage our work along this line if we can supply proper equip- 


Page Twenty-eight 


ment and staff. There is a great need by government and mission 
for trained instructors, and our teachers need to know the Bible 
and the Lord whom they serve. 


Recently eight men passed the first-year government normal 
examination; two have passed the second year, and now three are 
in the second year. We have one young man in Wilson College, 
Bombay. It is hoped that he will complete his course this spring 
and receive the B. A. degree. We also have a young man in the 
Mission Medical College at Miraj, completing the fourth year. At 
Bulsar we have two young men in high school, one of them in the 
last year. We have five girls in the Methodist Training School for 
Girls, two in the Presbyterian High School in Surat, who are to be 
trained for nursing, and one in the Mission Medical College for 
Girls, in North India. 


Whether this normal training class be considered a part of 
the Bible School or of the main school is immaterial. The work 
of the main school is so arranged as to prepare the students for 
the vernacular final examination for entrance to the Normal 
(government or mission), and to the Bible School. For the 
Marathi area the Bible and Teacher-training School is yet to be 
established. It will be at Palghar. 


The importance of raising up a large staff of Indian workers, 
men and women, cannot be overestimated. At present we are 
using many who are really unfit for service, and until we can 
educate and train many more we shall have to continue this plan. 
Well-qualified, efficient men and women, who can move among 
their own people, are the great need of the hour. Throughout our 
field there are open doors which we cannot enter because we do 
not have sufficient workers. Without them the missionary force 
cannot be at its best. Every missionary should be a leader of men, 
director of forces, teacher of others, friend of the friendless—in 
fact, all things to all men, multiplying himself through his assist- 
ants manyfold, helping the people of India to help themselves. 
Often the missionary is tempted to do the work himself, out of 


Page Twenty-nine 


disgust or impatience, seeing he often can do it*so much better or 
quicker, but the missionary is not in India to do what the Indians 
can do for themselves. Our task is one of leadership, and unless 
we bear this in mind we miss our calling. Our hope for raising up 
this force of workers is in the various institutions, and at the base 
of them all are the village and the boarding school. 


Industrial 


When we take up the very important subject of education, 
especially for a backward people, we have something that strikes 
close home to their very life and existence. They are the laborers 
and producers, and their living depends upon the sweat of their 
brows. No matter what the facilities and the system, the bulk of 
them from sheer necessity must go back to their former surround- 
ings and there work out their livelihood. On the face of it the 
question resolves itself into the use of a system of education that 
prepares them for leadership, more efficient workmanship, and 
greater ability to produce; and that places them on a higher plane, 
socially and morally, and fits them for an all-round life among 
their people. 

Booker T. Washington said of the masses: “ They need the 
moral and intellectual training, but they need also the material and 
the social conditions which will support and provide a basis for a 
higher plane of living, into which this sort of teaching seems to 
invite them to enter. They need to learn the habits of industry, 
individual initiative, and to acquire the notions of property and 
preserve to the individual the fruits of his labor. Without these 
the weaker must inevitably fall behind and perish.” 


Look out on this great field of nearly 700,000 of the backward 
peoples, of whom about 140,000 are of school age and fewer than 
10,000 of them in school anywhere! These are coming into our 
boarding schools in increasing numbers. They must be kept in 
the habits of industry. For girls to learn to read and write, to talk 
well, and wear better and cleaner clothes, is not enough. They 


Page Thirty 


must learn to make better food, to be able to utilize the products of 
nature around them, to make and mend their own clothes, to learn 
the elements of domestic hygiene and the proper care of children, 
and some home industry that will supplement the family wage. 


The boys should be taught to work and to work hard, but at 
the same time how to make their labor more productive and 
profitable. Agriculture (including dairying, stock raising, and 
horticulture), carpentry, blacksmithing, pottery, tile and _ brick 
making, tailoring, and such industries as are common to an agri- 
cultural community can be introduced as conditions of school 
allow. In the mechanical line, carpentry is the best educationally, 
is in the most general use, and is in great demand. 


From the above it will be seen that the industrial phase of our 
work in the boarding schools is of great importance. At the main 
institutions there should be facilities for chemical experiments and 
more advanced work than can be done in the local schools. There 
are needed for each of these institutions for boys from thirty to 
seventy-five acres of land, depending on the location, kind of agri- 
culture most suited to the local conditions, and on the number of 
boys in the school. 


Already a fair beginning has been made in agriculture and 
carpentry at several places where the schools have been for some 
time. Once this phase of our work is organized and more fully 
developed, we can hope for extensive grants from the government, 
since they are more and more favoring industrial education, 
especially for the backward classes. We can also hope for private 
gifts from both the European and Indian people for this work, 
though the religious phase of our efforts prejudices against us 
many who otherwise would help. 


A fact worth noting is that each of these educational areas, 
as indicated on the map and in the tables, is large enough, the 
people are needy enough, and are open enough, to make it possible 
for each institution to become much larger than the numbers we 
have indicated, especially in the Gujerat area. 


Page Thirty-one 


Work for Women and Girls 


The work for women and girls is so important that it is neces- 
sary to give it special notice. Bombay Presidency stands ahead of 
any other province in India in respect to female education. In all 
schools, government and private, there were, in 1916-17, 144,621 
girls in attendance, including European and Anglo-Indians. Of 
this number 7,526 were Indian Christians. In secondary institu- 
tions, aside from Europeans, Indian Christians take the lead, there 
being 2,356 in attendance. In that year a total of seventy girls of 
all the castes passed the matriculate examination, and one girl 
passed the B. A. examination the same year. 


One of the tasks of the woman missionary is to move from 
place to place and encourage by every available means the send- 
ing of girls to school. The women of India are the champions of 
the old ways, opposing reform and progress. Often the Hindu 
enthusiast for the abolition of some foul or damaging custom has 
meekly to submit before the protests and threats of the women 
folks of his own home. 


The work for women and girls consists of educational efforts 
in our station institutions, social work, medical aid and advice, 
itineration, encouraging attendance at school, and the bringing of 
the gospel message into the homes of the women, many of whom 
know nothing of the hopes, the joys, the aspirations, and the free- 
dom of the women of Christian lands, nor of personal salvation, 
for with them their salvation depends on that of their husbands. 


At Bulsar we have the Widows’ Home, in which are some 
twenty-five women and children. 


Sister, are you looking for a hard job, or for one that is so 
necessary? If you are, there is none more exacting than that of 
work for women and girls in India. Often discouraging, often 
seemingly hopeless, yet oh, so necessary!—for we can never win 
India, and establish Christian citizenship, without reaching the 
hearts of the women and girls. And you-know that they are real 


Page Thirty-two 


women and girls, responsive to kindness and love. Once you have 
won their confidence they are willing to learn and improve in their 
ways and in the care of their children and homes. The only rea- 
son why you are better than they are is that you have had a 
chance. They, too, need it, and India needs so much that her 
women should have it, and it is up to you to bring unto them the 
true light of freedom through Jesus our Savior. 


Medical 


The medical, like other agencies, is not the end, but a means 
to an end, and a very worthy means it is. Prior to the coming 
of our doctors the missionaries had all kinds of sad experiences. 
It is the lot of most missionaries to have to deal with the sick in 
their homes, among their workers and Christians, and among the 
people in general. Often lives have been saved and much good 
accomplished, but there are many cases for which the untrained 
Missionary can do nothing, and he must have the help of a doctor. 
Doctors of any kind are not numerous in India. There are few 
good qualified ones, especially outside the more important towns 
and cities; consequently the village population is without competent 
medical aid. Besides our own three Mission physicians there are 
about one dozen doctors who may be considered in the qualified 
class, and a couple of dozen others of the semi-qualified class. 
The remainder must be placed in the category of quacks, who 
prey on the superstition of the poorer and ignorant, often doing 
untold damage. 


Few agencies get closer to the lives of the people than the 
medical, and through this agency many of the superstitions are 
dispelled, prejudices removed, homes opened up to our workers 
and hearts softened and made ready for the message of the truth. 
No Christian worker has a better means of knowing the secret 
lives of the people than the doctors and nurses, and this agency 
is of the greatest use in winning the people to the Lord. 


Page Thirty-three 


At Bulsar the Quinter Memorial Hospital is being built, and, 
though yet incomplete, there is room for the sick that is being 
utilized by nearly all classes, high and low. In 1918, 150 patients 
stayed in the hospital. 


At Dahanu a dispensary was built, and our doctor there is 
increasingly in demand. It has been decided that Palghar be 
made a mission station, and that the medical headquarters for 
the Marathi area be there, thus making it more accessible to Vada. 
The present dispensary will be bought over for the girls’ school, 
and a new dispensary and hospital buildings will be erected at 
Palghar as soon as land can be obtained. We are now negotiating 
with the government for the land. 


Looking at your map you will see that each of the areas 
blocked out educationally is large. If a doctor desired to give him- 
self over to medical-evangelistic work, using the itinerant method 
as some missionary doctors have done, he would find in each place 
a great field, and one that would bring good results. As it is, we 
must have hospitals where we can place our sick, and consequently 
our doctors have only a limited time for direct heart-to-heart work 
with the people, though none have a better chance than they. 


Doctors located at any one of our mission stations would find 
no necessity for hanging out their “shingle,” nor for laying plans 
for capturing patronage. Here the people by the thousands, and 
even by the hundreds of thousands, die like flies when some epi- 
demic like the influenza, plague, or cholera comes along, and under 
ordinary circumstances the mortality is very heavy. 


Are you one of several doctors to a few thousand people, 
each of you running here and there, passing each other on the 
road, each accusing the other of taking his practice? Over here 
you will have more cases in a month than you will have there in 
a year. Here you will find scores of cases demanding the most 
skillful hand, the most alert brain, where one is coming your way 
there. There you are one doctor to 700 people; here there is only 
one qualified doctor to 100,000 people in our territory. 


Page Thirty-four 


At Umalla is Nurse Himmelsbaugh, who is caring for the 
medical needs of the station, and is also looking after the babies’ 
home. Umalla area affords a splendid opportunity for a mission- 
ary doctor. 


The Staff 


Our Indian staff now numbers about 200. To cultivate to the 
full capacity the territory for which we are responsible, we should 
have at least 1,000 workers, or five times the number we now have. 
Our station schools will require more than 100 of these, and the 
other duties centering in the stations will need a large number. 
In reality 1,000 is all too few, when we bear in mind that although 
we have open doors among the backward classes, and “ missionary 
strategy ’’ demands that we strike hard to widen the gaps, we are 
“debtors” to the Hindus, the Mohammedans, and the Parsees, 
too, in the same way that Paul was debtor to the Greeks and to 
the wise. During the next five years the staff should be doubled. 
In fact, the need is far greater, there being possibilities of a genu- 
ine mass movement. But our source of supply is limited until we 
can bring our institutions to a higher standard. 


During the past ten years we have not secured enough men 
Missionaries to keep up with the developments. Many times the 
interests of the Mission have not been cared for and advanced as 
they should have been. Jan. 1, 1905, there were twelve men on 
the field, and Jan. 1, 1919, only fourteen, including the two men 
who had arrived two days previously. Three of the above go on 
furlough before the end of March, leaving only eleven on the 
field. Look at the table showing the growth in the seven years, 
and do you wonder that men have broken in health from over- 
work? 


In 1900 the Missionary Conference that met in Madras passed 

a resolution that there should be one missionary (wives not 
counted) to every 25,000 of population. On this basis, properly to 
work our field of 1,200,000 will require forty-eight missionaries, 
besides the wives, making a total of about sixty-eight needed. 
Page Thirty-five 


From time to time there may be some changes, though the prob- 
able distribution of our forces will be as follows: 

Anklesvar, two men, three ladies; Umalla, two men, two 
ladies; Vyara, two men, two ladies; Jalalpor, two ladies; Ahwa, 
two men; Palghar, three men, two ladies; Vada, two men, two 
ladies; Bulsar, four men, three ladies; Dahanu, three ladies. 
These, besides the wives, who hold such an important place in the 
work of the communities and in our homes. Then we need one 
man to give his entire time to our big educational work, one for 
the production of literature, at least two more doctors, and, until 
our heavy building program is over, one man to direct our con- 
struction operations, giving us a missionary force on the field of 
about sixty-one; or, including those on furlough and sick leave, 
a total of sixty-eight. At present there are thirty-seven mission- 
aries on the field, including those in language study. Nurses, 
evangelists, Bible teachers, agriculturists, and industrial men are 
counted in the above list. Nurses will find a wide sphere of use- 
fulness in connection with the several educational institutions, in 
evangelistic work, and in our hospitals. Each of these institutions 
for boys gives a growing opportunity for the man who has had 
courses in agriculture and mechanics. At all stations teaching of 
the Bible is a regular part of the program for both men and women. 
At each station evangelists are badly needed to devote their 
whole time to this most important work—a work that is now much 
neglected because of pressure of many and varied duties. The 
well-prepared man who is consecrated to the Lord’s service will 
find ample scope for all his ability. 


Plant and Equipment 
Enlargement of the work means more buildings and extensive 
equipment. The missionaries must be protected from the climate, 
the ravages of disease and epidemics. The teachers and workers 
must have homes, also. In some villages the people can and do 
furnish houses for the schools and teacher, though often they are 
so poor that we can hardly ask a Christian family to live in them. 


Page Thirty-six 


The Mission has found that in the early days we did not build 
good enough. It does not pay, either in effort or money, to build 
poorly. Lumber always is expensive in India, and since the war 
it has been much more expensive. Finishing lumber, such as you 
would use at home, now costs $200 per thousand, while culls are 
half that, and hardware costs many times the pre-war prices. 
Then, adding greatly to the expense of building here, is.the fact 
that we are in the black cotton soil belt, where the effects of 
extreme rainfall and dry weather of summer severely try the 
structures, especially the foundations. Then for the protection 
from the heat and the rains, it is necessary to build wide verandas, 
all of which make the expense of buildings excessive. For work 
among a reachable and responsive people there are few fields that 
are better, but for building purposes there are many much less 
expensive and difficult. With the hope of avoiding the mistakes 
of the past and to unify our building program, the Mission has 
appointed one of her number to take general charge of construc- 
tion work. 


At Anklesvar and Vyara churchhouses are greatly needed, 
each costing about $6,500 above what the local communities can 
do. We notice that the Sheldon (Iowa) church has given $3,500 
for a McCann Memorial church at the former place, and we trust 
that the other $3,000 will be forthcoming from that or some other 
source. The total cost of dormitories for the several boarding 
schools, above that already provided, will be $80,000, or at the 
rate of $350 per twelve-foot section. For schoolbuildings, double 
story, a total of $90,000 is needed, or at the rate of $600 per story- 
section. 


Assuming that the present staff of Indian workers is provided 
for, and that of the other 800 necessary to man the field, 300 of 
whom will be provided for by the village people, there are left 
500, who in time will need houses at an average cost of $250 each, 
or a total of $125,000. Of this amount $50,000 will be required in 
the next five years. 

Page Thirty-seven 


We now have eleven houses for missionaries, and an additional 
fifteen will be necessary at an average cost of $4,000 each. Most 
of the money for two of these is in hand. For the other thirteen 
a total of $52,000 is required. 


The hospital to be built at Palghar has been partially provided 
for. A brother in Iowa has given $1,000 for the dispensary, though 
another $1,000 is essential. A brother in Colorado is arranging to 
contribute a certain amount for the hospital wards in memory of 
his departed daughter, to which a sister has added $1,500. Total 
needed, $9,000. 


At Palghar we have selected a building site and additional 
land for the agricultural work of the school. This is in a solid 
forty-acre lot, out of a much larger tract, which we can hope to 
get when needed. This is government land and we have hopes of 
obtaining this forty acres for about $1,000 or less. At Umalla we 
have the building site necessary and the agricultural land also. 
At Vyara we are trying to buy the land we need. At Ahwa we 
get what land we need for the asking from government. At 
Anklesvar negotiations have been in progress for a long time for 
a new site for the main girls’ school, but so far we have failed. 
At Vada a new building site and agricultural land are necessary, 
costing probably about $2,000. At Bulsar we have our hardest 
land proposition. This is our largest educational area, and prob- 
ably will be our largest institution, so we should have considerable 
land, which is hard to get at any price. It is worth noting that 
some land sells in the immediate vicinity for $1,000 to $1,500 per 
acre. A mile out it is only $50 per acre, though it is difficult to 
find a tract large enough in the hands of one man. To buy in one 
or two-acre lots is a very hard task where every one is watching 
to take the advantage. 

For mechanical and agricultural equipment, in connection with 
our schools, $25,000 will be none too much. Then stables, or 
garages as the case may be, wells, fences, compound roads and 
walks, quarters for domestic helpers, etc., will call for another 


Page Thirty-eight 


$25,000. At present we have two good churches at Bulsar and 
Umalla, and two small ones at other places. As these institutions 
grow and the Christian communities become larger, seven more 
commodious churches will be needed, at a cost of $6,500 each, or a 
total of $45,500 above what the people can do. At central places 
village churches are being erected. These are simple and provide 
also a house for the pastor. As much as possible free labor is 
used on these, as the people have little money to give. It is im- 
possible to foretell how many of these will be necessary in time, 
though in the next five years at least twenty should be built, at a 
cost above the people’s help of $400 each; total, $8,000. 

The influenza epidemic has placed a number of small children 
and babies in our charge, but we are not sure whether there will 
be a permanent need. At present they are being cared for at 
Umalla. 


Summary of Staff and Plant as Outlined in Body 


of Survey 

ow Uw jo 
aie Sere 
o| Ufa ae in School Tl} ov 
elas iL rormntonies Buildings | 3|4 

: be ° Ay vo 
Stations s}] zo|e 
g 2A ic 
2 a (3) 
SE Te Se Ty eat Cie Pogia be 
og Ae he se = 
=lalol 2 6 | a 5 la |O 
PAMICIES VAT sal inie sear ticle s)niclecdietitls ecelele ga ieccce is AowaleoOl ents S12 5000} seisiscs cs $12,000] 2| 1| 1 
Uber th Ee ah Pat ne AAA a A IE LeAnn 6|200]...|$ 5,000]....... SrA OO astatereies 71 Tia 
BRITS ya sew ale cas vasn eh anemeas ware cscs Aten s LOOLe essed FOOLS ee a.0 as 7,000) 1} 1] 1 
OTROS ac aa siss cHedeasn uueusacde eden nee on 61125 100} 3,000} 3,000} 6,000) 6,000} 1] 2) 1 
Weshlacatvas Moreh stodaleelae,a ie ieterartacie tere LOOK Slates lietoae sles CHT pan eel Ot oe 
SSL Sod Voom ete eetek nists aintalets sls aeitiastets' a: Niassters whatite DUIZOO Te tO ;000h es ce “fs alaZis 
PRTI WAST alee Nerd vistsiera site cate ait sins eitielewimeiciels a 6 4) 80) 65 5,000 4,000 5,000 4,000} 2}..| 1 
PATA NEM Cra hei caie aukic cus eue ciate to nsy sit sta as Se LOOT dee wee S000) Se eiele. 9,000} 1) 1} 1 
MBLSSULAT Uhre erate cis ahialntiotegls ory Serena wee aah ee's 8's 8}200). 10; 000 Tetons. LO;000) eco cies st o's 4) 1 
MietLasatecute theca nis cea codec cists waa wlee eee ets 6} 65 50 4,000} 4,000} 4,000} 4,000} 1} 2] 1 
On furlough, Aetetae ies Manis oicierardle Bete ne bine 3 Alste | eee cee area bars ears st nara wie lay Seweoleelas hee 


£7 ES ARE TAS ST A RN ER (64|970|7651$36,000|$33,000|$48,000|$42,000|13|14| 7 


*First item for Grades in Practice School, Upper grades, and Training De- 
partment. 
Second item for Boarding School for Jalalpor-Bulsar Village Children, 


Page Thirty-nine 


As to a school home for our missionaries’ children, it is an 
open question whether we should buy, build, or continue to rent 
as we are doing. It is premature now to place anything in this 
survey. 


At a few places we may get help from government or private 
individuals, especially on schoolbuildings and industrial equip- 
ment, and even on maintenance of children in school. It should 
be borne in mind that our work, being religious, often stands in 
the way of such benefactions, and we cannot afford to accept any 
gifts with conditions depriving us of doing the chief thing for 
which we have come to India, and which the country needs so 
much. 


A Five-Year Forward Look 


150 houses for Indian workers, at $250 each, ............. $ 37,500 
10 houses for missionaries, at $4,000 each, ................ 40,000 
Palihar tH ospitals } i500 Je Ay as Se eae es Oe tees ae ee ae ee ee 9,000 
Bulsar ;Fiospital) (additional sad. ae es ee te eee ee 5,000 
Dormitoriesati $350 per section, ms ase. ae se lee ee eee ee 50,000 
Schoolbuildings;/ ati S600 (nérisection: o..cn eee cove eee 50,000 
4‘ station) churches: satin0,000; wines ewan nioas eal olen eee 26,000 
Land ($10,000), mechanical and agricultural outfit ($15,000), 25,000 
Miscellaneous, Me ursee tee EMER Ret k sh SI hbe oh) Oey cee a ee 15,000 
Average of 1,200 boarding pupils, at $35, including school 

SX POMSE; Wied vod be de ciel aus teams ar che aisle ciey ache Mile bate ele te amen 210,000 
Average of 250 workers, at $80 per year, ...............-- 100,000 
Average of 55 missionaries, at $360 per year, ............ 99,000 
Average of 25 missionaries’ children, at $135 per year, ..... 16,875 
Taxes, fence and building repairs, $2,500 per year, ......... 12,500 
Medical)ti$3.000.ivearky ai Use sivwiae ciraie aie geet hieie amen eee 15,000 
Widows and children’s home maintenance, ............... 4,000 
20 village, churches, ati S400 ia Oikos a a ee 8,000 
Missionary children school home, etc., .............--000- 2,000 


Average of 50 in preparatory, normal, Bible, high school, 
ets., at $80, Bible assistant teacher ($600), and 


Page Forty 


Cepe Bayi t SIS OUI og Ee 2A ER) 9 ie Bee RR Ran a A et gm oe a 21,000 
Beaouris (olU,000), vacations: ($11,000), Vi... cinc sce sie ce 21,000 


OCA eem Tern SE uty eo Mind sid alas) Lise hie d soe aed e's $766,875 


After this Five-Year program of building is completed, the 
yearly needs for buildings will not be nearly so heavy. 


Our Aims 


That our Indian staff be raised from 250 to 350. 

That our missionary force be increased from 37 to 60. 

That there be an average of 1,200 pupils in boarding schools. 

That this be a great period for the raising up of forces to 
make the next period count for much larger evangelistic and 
educational advances. 

That the period give us whole-time evangelistic missionaries. 

That there be a marked advancement in work for women. 

That the average of girls in village schools be raised from 4 to 8. 

That ten Indian men be called to the ministry. 

That the number of churches be doubled. 

That the period see our older churches supporting their own 
pastors. 

That an average of 500 yearly be added to the Lord. 

That the contributions to the District Mission Board be in- 
creased from $500 to $1,000. 

That the circulation of the Brethren S. S. Quarterly be 
doubled. 

That the membership of the churches get a full realization of 
their indebtedness to others in return for what they have gotten 
from the West. 

That the number of our Sunday-schools be increased from 
seventy-three to 150. 

Note that the ABOVE can be made to serve as a PRAYER 
: a ino Bt 


Forty-one 


A big program, you say. But it is not any bigger than the 
program our Lord laid down for us. In fact, we have some dis- 
tance to go yet to come with our Lord either in vision or in 
sacrifice for a world lost in sin. There is more than enough 
“ conserved wealth’—wealth that by rights belonged to the Lord 
these many years—stored up in the Brethren church to meet this 
financial program many times over. The call of a World Program 
comes to the churches, comes loud and unmistakable. Civilization 
breaks down when Christ is not made supreme in the life of the 
individual, whether in social walk, business, religion, or in politics. 
The great NEED of these multitudes of people on the one hand, 
and the wondrous BLESSINGS from Christ on the other, measure 
our indebtedness. Our indebtedness has accrued in the same way 
as to Paul, and we should be ready to cancel the debt, lift the 
mortgage, and set free in CHRIST JESUS these many people 
who are dependent on us. 


The Field—A Summary 


. 

e|s 2 

—_ = wn 

: g iki 

Stations z= - o|s 

= RM Wir ba We bee WES Ds 

” 3 a es < S 

s| 3 |@/e|] §| & 

A te Bp ba-9 | ke ay jc 

n Ay Ai | & -] —Q 
Anklésvari (ss aed Seas aeons: ehiiee emir: 437| 96,360] 221] 162/11,563] 43,083 
HOG sci RAF Wiig niy iawn Ruse eee WIL ak Uae caetar ah aa SL 1,517] 161,588] 107] 682}10,857|108,097 
Valalporgs ihe sti astaeew aterateleee'a wie. o miytamrs Cae M iets aa ete afore 711} 252,648) 328] 320/26,917|131,076 
IV BPA, ichilaciie coe eeled te leant sae eiadee I eater ies 731} 127,193} 173] 417] 9,263] 79,949 
PW waisiiills WU. aiverdarciectataly wistorais alefepercrevere ia tre aroeetas nie ress 1,356] 44,575| 33} 142] 262] 41,156 
SS OE 2 eu AS MIOLA HEREC RMLARE Ar cen LR pili LM CS wot a 973] 227,173| 233} 385]14,279|162,208 
Daan uote ercis ne Ama iten eR ace ert 639] 138,162} 216} 238) 4,345| 88,420 
Palohari gd osc aula ctareccniitiats ti Rie een saat eee 406] 92,956] 229] 187] 3,415] 29,465 
Via aA hityes tera esta el atceiee aera esine Loe ice cee 283 44,372 78| 159} 1,121 18,317 
Pha DOtab lis saan vandeunie ized Luk miaeme naan Sueiica van 17,054|1,185,027|1,618|2,865|82,022|701,771 


Page Forty-two 


Growth in Seven Years 


Be, 
al 3 E 
Ww 
s |& o S| + » ln 
WM ee) rQ fs) =| S 
W)| 2 g nln .B) © | oOo| wn] wn 
g 2 oO g : g n rs ed at a 
wo) atol st | 2 lela i|o| s Slsls 
‘oO | 815 Shot ous Lacilar ei 
SPSel ai sis) aia! a /si sis 
& 145) O) A lal Bla! & lalate 
|ma|w| | | 

og RT | 913/103] 6} 527}..... 43}1,102| 44} 871} 2|112| 31 
Jomnneaye lk ps Se eae RAGE OSDare Gs 12}19|204| 9}1,628]1,207)73|2,217|106|2,252) 9|324|129 


*Owing to influenza the work of 1918 was greatly retarded. The statistics for 
1918 are not complete. 


Forty-three 


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